What do you say when you file an insurance claim on your commercial roof?

If your roof recently suffered storm or structural damage, you may need to file an insurance claim. Knowing how much deductible you have to pay is important, but you also want to know what other information they may require of you. Here are five big questions every insurance agent should ask when you consider filing an insurance claim:

1. How old is your roof?

Some states regulate how old a roof has to be before any damage constitutes a complete tear-off and replacement. If your roof is only a year or two old, minor damage may be repaired without needing to replace the entire roof. If you’re unsure how old your roof is, an insurance adjuster or roofing contractor may use a flex test on your shingle strength to estimate your roof’s age.

2. When did the damage happen?

This is very important: insurance companies rely on the specific “date of loss” to determine whether your insurance claim fits a specific window of time, usually twelve months. Check with your insurance provider sooner rather than later to see if your claim is still covered under your policy. It’s usually best to just evaluate the damage, obtain estimates, and file your insurance claim, if necessary, at the first opportunity.

3. Is there other damage besides the roof?

Even if you can’t see additional damage to your building, it doesn’t mean everything is secure. A detailed inspection by a trusted roofing contractor, like R&A Contracting, will give you peace of mind that your building didn’t sustain further damage than you might realize. If there is additional damage, it will need to be processed with your roof insurance claim.

4. Have you talked with any roofing contractors?

Many insurance providers recommend you get at least three estimates from verified roofing contractors who have experience working with insurance companies. A good rule of thumb is that if a roofing contractor is knocking at your door, it means they’re not busy working on someone else’s roof… and there’s probably a reason why. Use local, trusted roofing contractors and verify their credentials using this checklist.

5. When can an adjuster come inspect the damage?

The sooner, the better. It’s amazing how quickly good roofing contractors get busy after a significant storm moves through St. Louis. As we mentioned before, there is a 12-month window where you can file an insurance claim due to hail damage, but again, it’s worth double-checking with your insurance provider to be sure.

If your roof recently suffered storm or structural damage, our R&A Contracting is offering a free, no-obligation roof inspection. We welcome you to ask any questions you may have to ensure your roof receives the attention it deserves. We’re R&A Contracting and we’re here to serve you.

The R&A Team

I’d be an idiot if I did not take this opportunity to communicate to you how much we appreciate the way in which you conduct business and take care of our facility. In my experience you, and your team, are at the top of the list of all the roofing companies I’ve dealt with over the years. Thank you!

Jim Lowry - Bissinger's Handcrafted Chocolatier

Eric and crew were really nice to have around. They were courteous, careful and caused little if any disruption. Their work looks good too! To be honest… a good experience with a product that I initially had misgivings about. I’m a convert because of Bubba, Sam and Eric. Thank you.

Jim Lowry - Bissinger's Handcrafted Chocolatier

“I want to thank the crew at R&A for a job well done on our very leaky roof at the shop. It is certainly nice to have the drips and rivers gone from the shop when it is raining. I also wanted you to know how much we appreciated that the guys were able to stay out of our way and allowed us to do business as usual without any problems or interruptions. The roof looks great and the clean-up after the job made it so we couldn’t even tell you’d been here. Thanks for doing what you do so well!”

Jay Moore, President of Safe Way Tire and Auto Center

“My wife and I were on vacation when water pipes burst in our house. We got a hold of Craig and the R&A crew was able to start evacuating the water immediately. The best part was that they were able to start work before we even returned home. It was a very fast turnaround considering the extensive amount of water damage.”

Will from Dardenne Prairie, MO

“Craig and Mike came out in a timely fashion when we needed the work done. They did a reliable and quality job.”

Jerry from SLR Properties

“Craig helped us out tremendously with the insurance process. Timely and very professional.”

Lindell from Greater Missouri Builders (GMB)

“We purchased a house and there was some damage to the roof. Very impressed with the thoroughness of Mike’s inspection. Very comfortable with their explanation of what needed to be fixed. Most impressive was the way they protected our landscaping. Really liked the way they treated me as a valued customer, even though it was only a small project.”

Ross from Troy, MO

“I use R&A Contracting when my commercial roofs receive storm damage. They work on our behalf through every step of the insurance claim process. They perform all of the work and complete the insurance process, making our roofs better than they were before the storm.”

Director of Facilities for a large Property Management Company

“The team at R & A Contracting responded immediately when notified of our water disaster. They removed water-damaged materials and property quickly and restored our home even before the final settlement from our insurance company. They minimized how long our family had to live in a hotel and got us back to normal as fast as possible.”